Clearer picture on cash aid expected from Duterte’s second report on special powers

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) -- Lawmakers are expecting to see a clearer picture on how the government will distribute the cash aid to indigent families in President Rodrigo Duterte’s second report to Congress on his special powers to address the COVID-19 crisis.

“The President wanted to inform us that they will straighten out the confusion brought about by the database of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that does not tally with the local government unit database,” Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said, citing Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is also urging the executive department to iron out the system of distributing cash aid soon.

“I urge all concerned agencies to perfect the distribution system on this first month of [the] enhanced community quarantine since we still do not know how long this crisis will last,” Go said.

Sotto added that he also expects Duterte to heed the senators’ suggestion to broaden the coverage of the cash subsidy.

Among the key provisions of the Bayanihan to Heal as One law, which gave Duterte special powers, is the provision of a ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 monthly allowance for two months to indigent families.

Read more: CNN Philippines